Happy faces all around when recipients get the keys to their mobilepreneur bikes from Azian (third from left).

Vocational institute GIATMARA is seeking to enable former trainees to provide better and faster services with its mobile entrepreneurs programme, gifting select candidates with a motorcycle for work. ONG HAN SEAN reports from Kuantan, Pahang.

Skilled youths in Pahang will soon be providing their services on wheels as part of training institute GIATMARA’s mobile entrepreneurs programme, which is bequeathing suitable candidates with a motorcycle for work.

From hairdressing to welding services, the entrepreneurs will be riding straight to their customers on their brand new motorcycles fitted with rear boxes. The mobile entrepreneur programme is one of the efforts by the vocational institute, whose aim is to empower youths in rural and urban areas to become skilled workers or entrepreneurs.

GIATMARA chairman Datuk Azian Osman said the mobile programme was started in 2013 on a small scale in Kuala Lumpur and Sabah to enable former trainees to provide fast service and gain a good income.

“Through Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, GIATMARA has been allocated RM3mil to implement the programme nationwide,” he said at the motorcycle handover ceremony in Kuantan recently.

Forty recipients were handed their bikes during the ceremony.

Azian said the package for each recipient of the mobilepreneurship scheme was worth RM10,000 and includes motorcycle, rear box, entrepreneurship and motivation course and individualised toolkit.
The programme is on-going and the selection process continues to identify more candidates.

Azian said GIATMARA would be conducting more interviews and would select only those who were deserving and fitting to utilise the motorcycles.

“Do not feel humble just because you are a (mere) GIATMARA graduate. If you have the discipline, you can be successful. We can only try to help, because if you have the motorcycle but do not work, then it’s useless,” he said.

“Just having a motorcycle cannot make you rich, but you can start something from this and follow up on it. Build a career from there,” Azian advised the recipients.

He also warned the recipients that GIATMARA would take back the motorcycles if they were found to have misused it.

Electrician Marizlan Ismail, 27, was one of the beneficiaries of the programme. He said he hoped to be able to increase his income with the new motorcycle.
“This will make it easier for me to get into rural areas to do electrical work,” Marizlan said.

Fellow electrician Na’im Abdillah Zainuddin, 26, said he could now get to his customers more quickly.

“I’m working hard so I can open my own shop. Perhaps this motorcycle can slowly help me achieve my ambition,” he said.

Electrician Na’im showing how the rear box can handily fit the tools of his trade.

Nor Izwani Rozli, 21, said she would be using her motorcycle to complement her kuey teow (noodle) stall by delivering food and drinks to her customers.

She studied tailoring at GIATMARA but then developed an interest in the food and beverage business.
“There is demand for food delivery in Raub where I operate a stall with my husband. This gift can certainly help us to expand our business,” said Nor Izwani.